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Jaguars' Babin: Rushing passer never gets old

Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com The Jaguars' Jason Babin (58) catches a ball in front of Andre Branch during the team's Organized Training Activities on May 20.

This is a 2013 photo of Jason Babin of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team. This image reflects the Jacksonville Jaguars active roster as of Monday, June 10, 2013 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Defensive end Jason Babin is hoping to save his best for last.

A 10-year veteran who was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Babin is trying to show the skeptics he can still be a dominant pass rusher at age 33 for the Jaguars this year as he comes off groin surgery.

“There are things that are assumed with that age. But in my book, that’s another chip on my shoulder. It’s been kind of that way my whole career. It’s part of my DNA. It’s kind of served me well in this business,’’ he said.

The native of Paw Paw, Mich., was injured his senior season in high school and wound up at Western Michigan. He became the first player from that school to be drafted in the first round (2004 by Houston). The Texans played him at outside linebacker, but Babin felt he was a better defensive end.

He was traded to Seattle in 2007, waived, signed by Kansas City in 2008, spent a year with the Eagles and then signed with Tennessee in 2010, where he clicked with defensive line coach Jim Washburn and made his first Pro Bowl with 12.5 sacks.

He followed Washburn to Philadelphia in 2011, signed a five-year, $27 million deal, and did even better with 18 sacks and made his second Pro Bowl.

It all fell apart last year when the Eagles started losing and Babin and Washburn took much of the blame. He had 5.5 sacks in 11 games when coach Andy Reid released him. Washburn, now with the Lions, was fired on Dec. 3 after the team’s eighth consecutive loss.

The Jaguars, desperate to improve their pass rush, claimed Babin off waivers, but he came with a lot of baggage and was trashed by Philadelphia writers when he left.

One called him a “locker room lawyer of the worst kind, a me-first, me-last, self-absorbed bully.’’

When Gus Bradley took over as the Jaguars coach, he was aware of the negative reports about Babin.

“I did hear that when I first took the job,’’ Bradley said.

But Babin has been a good soldier for the Jaguars.

“It hasn’t been that way and he’s in a really good place right now, and I appreciate it,’’ Bradley said.

“I can look you in the eye and say that he’s been tremendous. He’s been tremendous for our culture. He adds to it. I can’t compare to where he was, but all I can say is that he’s been awesome.’’

Babin said he isn’t any different than he was in Philadelphia.

“They can write whatever they want. I don’t control them. I’m the exact same guy. I don’t change. I am who I am. Like me or hate me,’’ he said.

Babin is expected to be the key to the Jaguars’ defense because he has been assigned to play the Leo position, the premier pass rusher in the Jaguars’ defense.

Babin said they told him he should fit well in their system.

“It’s not like a square peg in a round hole,’’ he said. “It wasn’t like I had to alter too much.’’

The Jaguars hope he can help bolster a pass rush that has generated an average of just 24 sacks a year the last five years, the lowest in the league.

Babin seemed surprised to hear that figure.

“Twenty-four sacks a season?’’ he asked. “For real?’’

And instead of sounding like a me-first type of player, he talked about what the team needs to do.

“Everybody is willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to succeed,’’ he said. “This has made it a real easy formula for everyone. We’re going to be able to cover, we’re going to be able to rush and were going to stop the run.’’

Babin said the groin surgery hasn’t been a major problem. He said if anything, the tendon is stronger after the surgery. He’s also been mentoring the young players, giving first round pick Luke Joeckel the kind of looks he will face.